Lonnie Marion Grady, 79, a lifelong resident of Union City whose career in education was devoted to the students and staff of the Obion County School System, passed away April 10, 2021, surrounded by his family.

Edmaiston Mosley is in charge of services which will be at Bishop Street Church of Christ in Union City. Friends may call from 11am with the service being at 1pm Tuesday. Burial will follow at Obion County Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , the Children's Home in Paragould, Ark., or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation .

Pallbearers will be Bill Brewer, Kelley Cross, Kenneth Kemp, Mark McCullough, Dwight Tittle and Mike Wilson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Hugh Adams, Wayne Barber, James Faulkner, Clifford Ferguson, Bill Garrett, Don Gray, Rick Hepler, Lowell Grooms, Wesley Jackson, Joe Johnson, Vinson Thompson, Randy Pitts, Sonny Yarbrough, Ronny Yoes and members of the Jones Chapel Chapel Church of Christ Men's Bible Class.

Grady's greatest love was for his Lord, and he had a passion for preaching the Word of God that endured throughout his adult life.

He and his wife, the former Beverly Houston of Kenton, had celebrated 50 years of marriage and the birth of two children, Mary Margaret Grady Read of Cottontown and Hunter Houston Grady, who passed away in 1987.

Grady was a graduate of Union City High School and earned his master's degree in education and counseling from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He was employed as a history teacher, guidance counselor and girls basketball coach at the former Kenton High School from 1964-75. In 1975, he was hired as special education supervisor of Obion County schools and then served in the capacities of attendance director, budget director, assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools for the system. He was known as an ardent advocate for children with special needs throughout his career.

A member of Bishop Street Church of Christ in Union City, he was a Bible teacher and deacon and was cherished for providing encouragement to so many during the pandemic through his virtual "fireside chats" on Wednesday evenings. He had preached at Jones Chapel Church of Christ in Tiptonville for 27 years.

Grady's second greatest love was for his family, and he enjoyed traveling. He was a history buff who also loved listening to music.

In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his granddaughter, Georgia Anne Read, and his son-in-law, David Read, of Cottontown, as well as his brother and sister-in-law, Hayes and Marjorie Grady of Murray, Ky. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Helen Houston of Union City; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gary and Marsha Houston of Rives; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, Raymond E. and Mary Emma (Fluty) Grady.

Edmaiston Mosley Funeral Home (731) 885-1033